Here's an overview of the good things that Mark Dayton did when he was Senator. Some of the most outstanding were his support for veterans and his voting against the Iraq War. Here's an audio clip of his interview with Greta Cunningham of Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) regarding his boycotting of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's speech in 2006. It's one more example of how he has supported peace throughout his political career. This interview took place on July 26, 2006.
Senator Mark Dayton was the first U.S. senator to challenge the idea that The 9/11 Commission Report settled the questions of September 11, 2001. He raised an obvious point: if the timeline of air defense response as promoted in the Kean Commission's best-selling book is correct, then the timeline presented repeatedly by NORAD during the last two years was completely wrong. Yet no one at NORAD was willing to comment on their own timeline! When the official story of 9/11 can be changed repeatedly without anyone ever being held accountable, we have no right to ever again expect honest government. Here is the transcript from Friday, July 31, 2004 at Congressional hearings on The 9/11 Commission Report.
Here's the live version:
Here's some commentary on John McCain's senility when he recently forgot that he had denied Mark Dayton an extra thirty seconds on the Senate floor back in 2002. This was when the Senate was debating whether to give President Bush authorization to go to war in Iraq. Mark Dayton delivered a passionate speech against giving Bush the authorization to use force in Iraq.
Senator Mark Dayton also had an excellent record of speaking up for human rights. Watch this video as he tells why he voted against the marriage amendment that would have banned gay marriage.
Senator Mark Dayton supported the Immigration Reform Bill. Here's his interview with MPR's Tom Crann.
*** Mark Dayton on immigration. This also has links to other issues. ***
Immigration Voting Record of Senator Mark Dayton:
2001: Cosponsored S. 1749 to increase illegal immigration with an alien tracking and identification system. Senator Dayton cosponsored the Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act of 2001 to create a comprehensive alien tracking and identification system by implementing an entry-exit system with an integrated database of biometric identifiers for every visa holder. This would have greatly reduced the ability for a visa holder to overstay their visa and become an illegal alien in the U.S. This bill did not come to a vote.
2002: Voted in favor of H.R. 3525, a comprehensive alien tracking and identification system. Senator Dayton voted in favor of the Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act of 2001 to significantly reduce future population growth from illegal immigration by making it much harder for temporary visa holders to stay in the country illegally after their visas expire. H.R. 3525 includes an entry-exit system and an integraded data system with biometric identifiers. H.R. 3525 passed the Senate unanimously by a vote of 97-0.
2005: Voted against amendment to add detention beds to increase interior enforcement. Senator Dayton voted against the McCain amendment to H.R. 2360 (whose main sponsor was Rep. Harold Rogers (KY)), the Department of Homeland Security Approprations Act. The McCain amendment would have increased the number of detention beds to those called for in the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004. The McCain amendment failed by a vote of 42 to 56 on July 14, 2005 (11:49 AM).
2005: Voted in favor of Byrd Amendment to increase interior enforcement. Senator Dayton voted in favor of the Byrd Amendment to H.R. 1268 (an emergency supplemental spending bill) to provide funding to hire 250 new immigration investigators, and 168 new immigration enforcement agents and deportation officers. The Byrd amendment also provides funds for 2,000 additional detention beds as well as funding to train the new personnel. The amendment passed 65-34 on April 20, 2005 (3:18 PM).
2006: Voted against amendment to fund immigration investigators. Senator Dayton voted against the Sessions Amendment to H.R. 5411 (whose main sponsor was Rep. Harold Rogers (KY)), the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations bill for 2007. The Sessions Amendment would have added $86 million for 800 additional staff to investigate immigration law violations. The amendment failed by a vote of 34 to 66 on June 13, 2006 (4:38 PM).
2006: Voted in favor of amendment to increase interior enforcement. Senator Dayton voted in favor of the Bingaman Amendment to S. 2454 to authorize grants to state, local, or tribal law enforcement agencies near the borders to assist in immigration enforcement. The Bingaman Amendment passed by a vote of 84 to 6 on April 3, 2006 (5:31 PM).
2006: Voted in favor of Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006. This is a bill to increase immigration and grant amnesty to illegal aliens.
Read more about immigration at Justice for Immigrants.
Read more at Civil Rights for Immigrants.
Read Senate Bill 1033.
What happened to the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007? Thie bill started out as Senate Bill 1033 in 2005. It passed the Senate but not the House.
More on Comprehensive Immigration Bills.
OTHER ISSUES
These websites not only explain Mark's stand on the issues, but also why he voted a particular way and what voting the opposite way would really have meant.
Mark Dayton on Abortion.
Mark Dayton on Budget and Economy.
Mark Dayton on Civil Rights.
Mark Dayton on Education.
Mark Dayton on Environment.
Mark Dayton on Foreign Policy.
Mark Dayton on Government Reform.
Mark Dayton on Health Care.
Mark Dayton on Homeland Security.
Mark Dayton on Jobs.
Mark Dayton on Principles and Values.
Mark Dayton on War and Peace.
Mark Dayton on Welfare and Poverty.
Miscellaneous
Dayton Voted No-Confidence In Rumsfeld Motion
Dayton Votes Against Katrina Committee Report
Congressional Votes Database for Mark Dayton
United States Senate Financial Disclosure Statement for 2005
Itemized Voting Record of Senator Mark Dayton
Congressional Travel Expenses
Mark Dayton's Political Experience: U.S. Senator (2001-2007), member of the Armed Services, Agriculture and Homeland Security Committees; Co-chair of Hillary Clinton's Minnesota Presidential Campaign; Minnesota State Auditor 1991-1994; Commissioner of Energy and Economic Development, 1983-1986; Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Economic Development in Perpich administration (1978); Legislative assistant to Minnesota Sen. Walter Mondale (1975).
In 1983, reelected Governor Rudy Perpich appointed Mark Dayton the Commissioner of an expanded Minnesota Department of Energy and Economic Development. During his tenure, he set up the newly created Minnesota Economic Development Authority, which offered tax and other financial incentives to businesses willing to locate or expand and create jobs in Minnesota. He also developed the Minnesota Star City Program, an initiative begun by his predecessor, which trained local officials, business owners and other community leaders throughout the state to retain existing businesses and recruit new businesses into their cities. He also organized another new program established by the legislature, under which he named the first “Enterprise Zones” in Minnesota.
Mark left state government four years later and founded the Vermilion Investment Company.
In 1990, Mark ran for State Auditor and won. He served one four-year term in a position he describes as “the Taxpayers' Watchdog.” During this time, he formed a Special Investigations Unit to uncover misuse and theft of public funds in cities, counties, townships and school districts throughout Minnesota. He also served on the boards of the state Executive Council, the state Board of Investment, the state Land Exchange Board, the Public Employees Retirement Association and the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency. Mark also successfully led the opposition to corporate attempts to use public pension funds to prop up their financially ailing operations.
Following his time as State Auditor, Mark co-chaired the Reelection Committee of his long-time friend, Senator Paul Wellstone, and served as its Finance Chairman. In 1997, Mark launched his own campaign for Governor of Minnesota; however, he lost in the DFL Primary to then-Attorney General Skip Humphrey.
In early 2000, Mark was eager to once again have a role in statewide politics. Early in the year, he announced his candidacy for the United States Senate seat then held by Senator Rod Grams. After hearing from hundreds of Minnesotans during his gubernatorial campaign, Mark launched a series of bus trips to Canada, funded by donated Senate salary, called the “Rx Express.” These trips continue today to provide seniors with a way to buy much-needed prescription medicines at substantially lower prices. He also created the “Healthcare Help Line,” which is in its fourth year of assisting Minnesotans with problems they have with their insurers.
In September, Mark won the DFL primary and eight weeks later was elected to the United States Senate. On January 3, 2001, he was sworn in as the 33rd Senator from Minnesota and as the 1,846th Senator in the nation's history. Source.
Keys Issues and Priorities as Governor: According to Dayton's website, his goals as governor would be to improve the state's schools and universities, provide affordable health care for everyone and restructure the state's tax system to help fund needed services such as highway maintenance and public school classrooms.
*** Senator Mark Dayton always voted his conscience. His conscience was always of the highest moral and ethical fortitude. His conscience will serve the people of Minnesota well when he is governor. ***
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